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NEW UNITED STATES STANDARD LIGHT RAIL VEHICLE

This paper presents details of the new United States standard light rail vehicle (LRV) being built by the Boeing Vertol Co. for the Boston and San Francisco public transportation authorities. System operation, design features, and performance are described for the LRV, successor to the ubiquitous President's Conference Committee car, last built in the United States in 1951. Used most effectively for an intermediate mass transit volume of 8000-24,000 passengers/h, the Boeing LRV incorporates much of the available state-of-the-art technology. The car body is tough and lightweight with numerous functionally oriented features. The propulsion system is the latest in thyristor-chopper control as applied to separately excited d-c traction motors. In addition, a variety of features enhance the comfort, safety, and maintainability of the LRV. Its multiple-wear resilient wheels make it a more quiet neighbor.